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Jalopnik Film Festival Revs Up LA This Weekend

Most people have their “dream car,” the year, make, model, paint color and tires all etched into their brains, the first purchase all planned once they’ve “made it,” whatever “it” refers to.

I don’t. I’m about as far from a car guy as you can get. I pay for someone to do my oil changes rather than learn the simple process. I have to look up how to spell carburetor. I don’t have A/C.

The only cars I’ve ever wanted are make believe (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) or impractical (DeLorean). When cars and movies intersect, that‘s when my engine starts to roar, and that’s exactly why the 3rd annual Jalopnik Film Festival, driving into LA this weekend on September 25-26, is so exciting.

The two-day event, hosted by the popular car site, features a collection of premieres, classic car movies, and events that sounds fun, even for a car moron like myself.

The excitement kicks off Friday night with a Ride & Drive experience with the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata, followed by a gala screening of (yes, that) Adam Carolla’s documentary Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman at Santa Monica Airport’s Barker Hangar. The fun includes a Q&A with Carolla and an after-party. The screening and pre-party is free with an RSVP.

On Saturday, the fun moves to The Ace Hotel in downtown LA, with a short film contest, panels and documentaries like Steve McQueen: The Man and Le Mans and Daniel Junge’s Being Evel, with appearances by Johnny Knoxville, Tony Hawk, George Hamilton, and the late Frank Gifford.

Film fans will also have a chance to see George Miller’s original Mad Max in all its Aussie glory on the big screen, as well as the film many cite as having the best car chase scenes ever: Ronin. John Frankenheimer’s Ronin will also feature a Q&A with Jalopnik writer Alex Roy, Hot Rod Garage‘s Tony Angelo, stunt driver Sera Trimble, and hollywood car-finder Josh Hancock. Who doesn’t want to spend a weekend with Paul Newman, Steve McQueen and Robert DeNiro? Is there a cooler trio in Hollywood history?

Tickets cost $25 for an all-day pass or $75 for VIP admission, and the festival features a helluva lot more movies than I’ve already discussed.